House passes bill to help restore public trust in law enforcement
I am pleased the house passed a bill that will allow cities and towns, including Bridgeport, to tap into a $9 million reserve of state funding to purchase body cameras and dashboard cameras for police cruisers.
House Bill 7308 would establish a task force to review the use of police body cameras and expands access to funding for its purchase. Additionally, it will allow the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) to administer a grant program available to municipalities to reimburse municipalities for costs associated with purchasing equipment.
This measure has been one of the top priorities of the Black and Puerto Rican caucus and as chair of the Caucus, I am extremely pleased that the House of Representatives voted to move this bill forward. Body cameras can be a critical resource for law enforcement as we grapple with restoring trust between police and the public.